The photographs, conversations, stories and informal talks in this book chronicle some of the small and great steps taken over the years by people from around the world who are walking the path of Self-realization at Ananda Village, in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains of Northern California.

In the last chapter of the first edition of Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramhansa Yogananda mentioned with great emphasis his vision of World Brotherhood Colonies. These were seen as small intentional communities in which people could live and work together, consciously focusing on helping each other to develop their inner lives. The people of Ananda have learned that this focus takes a great deal of energy and determination. The agreement to live this way resembles a much larger version of the extended family, with all of the responsibilities, all of the rewards, and all of the challenges implied.

A small group of devotees of Yogananda, led by Swami Kriyananda, began in 1968 to build a modest retreat center called Ananda. This center has grown to be a community of householders, businesses, schools, with about 400 men, women, and children of all ages. People have also gone from this one place to found other intentional communities and meditation centers around the world.